RIVER SONGS OF BANGLADESH is comprised of field recordings by Deben Bhattacharya.
Northeast of India, Bangladesh is situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. The life and traditions of a large part of the population of Bangladesh revolve around the bay and the numerous rivers and rivulets which fall into the bay. Listeners find two forms of traditional music -- one that is based on the Indian raga-tala and the other called Deshi -- which are the popular folk songs, the styles of which are diverse and still alive in the life of Bengali people. Many of the styles are about the rivers -- its ebbs and tides and the people working and depending on the water for their livelihood. They are sung either in solo or accompanied by few instruments, such as two different lutes, a transverse flute, wooden clappers and cymbals, and double-headed wooden drums. All of these instruments were adapted from Indian origins. Listeners hear on this CD an expression of the life and traditions of a people they do not hear much about. A discovery. ~ Bruno Deschˆnes
